Five of Our Favorite Off-Road-Ready SUVs to Buy Used

If you’re looking at used cars for sale near Knoxville, the Rusty Wallace Family of Dealerships is here to help. With multiple locations, you have an excellent chance to find the vehicle that best suits your needs. Among the many kinds of drivers who enjoy shopping with us, off-roaders trust us to help them find the vehicle that enables them to embark on adventures.

Among the many off-road-ready options in our inventory, SUVs are among the most popular. The right SUV can deliver the performance you need to handle the challenging terrain that comes with any adventure. Today, we’re presenting a look at the most adventurous models you can buy pre-owned. From all-wheel drivetrains to performance-oriented engines, these vehicles are your best options for off-roading.

Finding any one of these models will be easy when you shop with the pros at the Rusty Wallace Family of Dealerships. With an incredible selection, a helpful sales team, and affordable prices, we’re the off-road outfitters who can help you embark on your next excursion, regardless of where it might be.

#1 – The Jeep Wrangler

No SUV is more closely associated with the world of off-roading than the Jeep Wrangler. From its early days in World War II to the off-road-ready models of today, a Wrangler can give you the competitive edge you need for any adventure. With standard four-wheel drive and its removable doors and top, the Wrangler can be instantly transformed into a dune buggy.

Multiple trims and powertrains make the Wrangler highly adaptable to any adventurer’s needs. Off-roaders who favor performance can harness the power of a HEMI V8, which has been available since 2021. This V8, with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, can help drivers conquer steep or rough terrain. For drivers who split their time between the city limits and the path less traveled, the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe even offers miles of electric-only driving in addition to this capability.

The Wrangler can do far more than facilitate adventure. Its highly intuitive Uconnect infotainment system offers navigation and trail-oriented technologies that are ideal for any off-roading journey.

#2 – The Subaru Crosstrek

When the conversation turns to off-road-ready SUVs, Subaru is often mentioned. The Subaru lineup is praised for its innovative all-wheel drive system and Boxer engine, which deliver performance ideal for both on-road and off-road use. A used Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact offering that proves that big capability comes in small packages.

Any Crosstrek model can help you embark on your next adventure. The symmetrical all-wheel drive system that comes standard on all models enables taming of any unruly terrain. On top of that, its low and stable Boxer engine delivers the performance you need to handle the twists and turns of any adventure.

Like many modern off-road-ready SUVs, the Crosstrek can double as a daily driver. From 2021 to 2023, a plug-in hybrid version offered electric-only travel and remarkable fuel economy. Joining its off-road-ready capabilities are aspects that many SUV owners love, such as generous storage space and an intuitive infotainment screen.

#3 – The Ford Bronco

For many decades, the Ford Bronco was widely regarded as a leading off-road SUV. Ever since its return in the early 2020s, a whole new generation of drivers has rediscovered the remarkable capabilities of Ford’s classic SUV. Like the Wrangler, the Bronco comes with standard four-wheel drive and can have its doors and top removed. Knoxville off-roaders who have always wanted a dune buggy can now have one.

The Bronco offers much more than performance. This tech-savvy SUV has advanced items that drivers can benefit from, such as its multiple driving modes, which Ford calls its GOAT (“Goes Over Any [type of] Terrain”) system. Select trims of the Bronco, like the Everglades and Raptor, are designed to handle the most arduous conditions, with features engineered for enduring the boldest adventures.

Like other Ford models, the Bronco is powered by SYNC, a highly intuitive, advanced infotainment system. Features such as over-the-air updates and cloud-based navigation provide a tech-savvy off-road experience. The Bronco also has a comfortable and spacious interior, with room for a GoPro on the dashboard to record your adventures for posterity.

#4 – The Toyota 4Runner

Widely celebrated for sustainability and safety, Toyota is one of the most favored brands among commuters. Toyota has also proven itself to be highly capable in the rough-and-tumble world of off-roading. Many adventurers favor large trucks like the Tacoma and SUVs like the Land Cruiser, but others attest to the midsize 4Runner’s off-road-ready capability.

Adventurers consider the best off-roading SUVs to have powertrains that exude incredible performance. From 2020 to 2024, the 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0L V6 engine that produced 270 hp and could tow up to 5,000 lbs, making it ideally suited for off-roaders who favored horsepower and capability.

Like many of the off-road-ready vehicles Toyota has built over the years, the 4Runner has come in outfits that boast features appealing to all kinds of adventurers. The TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium trims give drivers an edge on any terrain, with features such as skid plates, all-terrain tires, and specially designed suspensions.

Knoxville drivers who enjoy sustainability and safety will enjoy what a used 4Runner offers. Like all Toyota models, it tends to last a remarkably long time when properly maintained, and each 4Runner has an abundance of driver assistance technologies.

#5 – The Chevy Tahoe

The biggest SUV on our list is also one of the most capable for off-roaders. The Chevy Tahoe, a three-row SUV, offers plentiful seating and a wealth of storage space. However, it’s what the Tahoe has under the hood and its different trims that make it ideal for off-roaders. It spares no expense to give Knoxville drivers the best of the bowtie brand.

The Chevy Tahoe has always offered the power of a V8 under the hood, providing drivers with the best in performance and capability. Since 2021, the Tahoe has also been available with a diesel powertrain, producing 460 or 495 lb-ft of torque. A total of three engine options makes choosing the ideal level of performance easy.

2021 was the year the Z71 trim was introduced. Designed for off-roading, it has skid plates, a suspension system for adverse topographical conditions, and other features that a discerning off-roader will find favorable. Matching these with any of the available engines delivers an off-roading experience unlike any other.

A Used SUV Ideal for any Adventurer

While some off-roaders enjoy the capability of a pickup truck, an SUV can sometimes be just as capable. The models we’ve spotlighted here today are ideal for any off-roading adventure, as each offers unique capabilities agreeable to any driver in Knoxville.

For instance, a used Wrangler or Crosstrek can give you off-road-ready performance, with plug-in hybrid powertrain options that can benefit your commute around town. Other SUVs, like the 4Runner and Bronco, offer spacious interiors and technologies that make time behind the wheel more enjoyable. The Chevy Tahoe offers ample seating and storage, allowing drivers to bring more people on their next excursion.

All of these off-road-ready SUVs, and many others, can be found through the Rusty Wallace Family of Dealerships. Our cumulative pre-owned inventory is continually evolving, and you’ll enjoy affordable prices and helpful salespeople who’ll guide you in choosing what works best for you.